Top 10 League Cup wins

August 24 2009

Sandor Torghelle

We pick out our top 10 Crystal Palace victories in the League Cup.

10. Charlton 1-2 Palace
Third round - October 27 2004

With survival in the Premier League the priority for Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace, the manager made 10 changes from the side that beat West Brom in the previous game for the midweek trip to the Valley. It was no surprise to see Charlton take a fifth minute lead as former Palace defender Hermann Hreidarsson headed past Julian Speroni.

Just before half-time Dougie Fredman levelled the scores. Then nine minutes into the second period, Sandor Torghelle made a brilliant turn on the edge of the box and fired a rocket into the back of the net for 2-1. The Hungarian was sent off with 20 minutes left after getting a second yellow card for a diving but Palace's reserves held on with 10 men against a full strength Addicks to win.

9. Palace 4-0 Man City
Fifth round - January 11 1995

Palace reached the semi-finals for the second time in three years with an no-nonsense display against Man City. Darren Pitcher netted his first goal for the club with a powerful drive into the top corner before John Salako added another fine goal with an exquisite left-footed curler from the right side. Chris Armstrong blasted goal number three from an acute angle then substitute Andy Preece fired home from the edge of the area to complete the rout.

8. Leicester 0-3 Palace
Third round - November 1 2000

The Eagles faced a difficult trip to Filbert Street to take on Premier League side and cup holders Leicester who were managed by Peter Taylor. Clinton Morrison gave Palace an early lead with a header from six yards out.

Steve Thomson scored a stunning 25 yard goal and Andrejs Rubins topped it with a surging run down the middle which ended with a thunderous 30 yard strike giving keeper Simon Royce no chance of saving it.

7. Palace 2-1 Liverpool
Fourth round replay - December 16 1992

The Eagles were unfortunate not to win the original tie at Anfield as Liverpool's goal in the 1-1 draw came from a severely debatable penalty - how many times have we seen that! A young Palace side were keen to exact revenge over their Premier League rivals, and against the run of play, took the lead through Grant Watts who headed in Simon Rodger's corner flicked on by Andy Thorn.

Mike Marsh got Liverpool back on terms with another contentious penalty to send the tie into extra-time. But in the 101st minute, Reds captain Steve Nicol sliced a clearance, and as the ball looped up over the stranded keeper, Thorn reacted fastest to head the ball into the net.

6. Palace 3-1 Chelsea
Fifth round - January 1993

In monsoon conditions, Palace claimed a spot in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time with victory over their London rivals. The pitch was only deemed playable half an hour before kick-off and in the driving rain, makeshift striker Chris Coleman put Palace in front.

Blues defender Frank Sinclair attempted to pass back to his keeper but the ball got stuck in the boggy pitch on the edge of the area. Coleman slid in to reach the ball and his shot trickled towards the goal and agonisingly just went over the line. Andy Townsend levelled for Chelsea but a young George Ndah restored Palace's lead. Then teenager Grant Watts got on the end of Simon Rodger's cross to ensure the win.

5. Palace 2-1 Sunderland
Fifth round - December 19 2000

The League Cup brought some rare moments of joy in what was a traumatic season for Palace, ending in the last day win over Stockport to stay in the division. After despatching holders Leicester and runners-up Tranmere, the Eagles faced Premier League outfit Sunderland.

The Black Cats were a formidable side who finished the campaign in eighth but found themselves a goal down thanks to a Mikael Forssell effort. However, Alex Rae restored parity for the northern club just 29 seconds later to silence the Eagles faithful. But after Forssell and Clinton Morrison hit the bar, the latter put Palace into the semi-finals with a low shot into the far corner.

4. Palace 2-1 Liverpool
Semi-final first leg - January 10 2001

Five times winners Liverpool came to Selhurst challenging for the Premier League title and would go on to have one of their best seasons in years. But Palace, struggling in football's second tier, failed to be over-rawed by their illustrious opponents and stole the lead through another long-range venomous strike from Andrejs Rubins who had scored in the third round at Leicester.

Clinton Morrison increased the advantage to send Eagles fans into raptures but substitute Vladimir Smicer pulled a goal back for the Reds. Liverpool went on to win the competition for a unique treble success as the FA Cup and UEFA Cup were also claimed. Although Palace lost the second leg 5-0 at Anfield, they had inflicted Liverpool's only cup defeat of the campaign.

3. Arsenal 0-2 Palace
Fourth round replay - November 9 1970

Palace went into this replay after a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park with many pundits writing off their chances of victory against a great Arsenal side. With Mel Blyth and Steve Kember injured, their chances of making the quarter-finals were even slimmer and it was no surprise that they were made to defend for their lives.

But they took a shock lead against the run of play when keeper Bob Wilson parried Jim Scott's effort and Gerry Queen scored from the rebound. Skipper John Sewell then went off with an injury but Palace scored again, this time from the penalty spot, through Bobby Tambling after Queen was fouled in the box. The Gunners remained unbeaten for the rest of that season and went on to do the double.

2. Palace 2-1 Leeds
Fourth round - October 16 1968

Second Division Palace took on a formidable Leeds outfit who were top of the league, had just won the European Fairs Cup and were the current League Cup holders. Don Revie's side would eventually win the First Division title this season and featured the likes of Jack Charlton and Johnny Giles in their line-up.

But Palace were a decent side themselves and would end their campaign getting promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history. Cliff Jackson and Colin "Cannonball" Taylor, who smashed home a ferocious 25 yard free-kick, were on target in front of a crowd of 26,000 at Selhurst Park.

1. Palace 2-1 Liverpool
Third round - October 25 2005

Memories of a League Cup triumph over Liverpool more than five years earlier were fresh in Palace fans' minds but few people would have predicted another shock. The Eagles had just come down from the Premier League and Liverpool were the current European champions who would finish the season in third place and win the FA Cup.

After soaking up plenty of pressure in the first half, Palace took the lead through Dougie Freedman who nodded home a pin-point Michael Hughes cross from the left. Steven Gerrard equalised for Liverpool with a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the D. But Marco Reich's volley at the far post from another Hughes cross won it for the Eagles.

Reich volleys in the winner against Liverpool